Milford wetlands agency approves Learning Experience daycare at 708 Boston Post Road with stormwater, signage and monitoring conditions

The Milford Inland Wetlands Agency on March 19 approved application IW25007 by The Learning Experience to construct a daycare, parking, playgrounds and compensatory flood-storage area at 708 Boston Post Road, subject to conditions addressing stormwater, erosion controls, signage and monitoring.

Agency staff said there are no wetlands on the subject property but the proposed work lies within 50 feet of wetlands on City of Milford property along the Weppelog River and near wetlands on an adjoining rear property. Mary Rose, a staff member, introduced the item as IW25007 and summarized the proposed site revisions and the city engineer's review.

Attorney Thomas Lynch of Lynch, Trumbicki & Boynton represented the applicant and said the applicant had revised plans in response to the city engineer's March comments. Tim, a project engineer with JR Russo and Associates, described technical revisions: the building finished floor was raised by one foot; runoff previously routed to a northeast basin was redirected to a northwest basin that was redesigned as an infiltration basin after soil testing showed suitable soils; catch basins were modified to include four-foot sumps and an oil trap; a construction entrance was added; and the dumpster enclosure was reduced in size and curbing eliminated to create snow-storage areas on both sides of the dumpster.

The agency's conditions of approval require the permittee to submit a construction plan before taking out the permit; install and maintain soil erosion and sedimentation controls per the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) 2024 erosion and sedimentation control guidelines; perform weekly inspections of erosion controls and additional inspections within 48 hours after a "significant precipitation or flooding event" (defined in the conditions as 1.5 inches in 24 hours); correct issues found within 24 hours of inspection; and post a permit-condition bond for erosion and sediment controls. Stormwater treatment must be installed as shown unless changes are approved in writing prior to construction. Operations and maintenance manuals for stormwater systems must be recorded on City of Milford land records.

The agency also required a mitigation-monitoring bond and a minimum three-year mitigation monitoring program conducted by a professional wetland scientist, with reports to the agency twice a year. If the mitigation criteria are not met after three years the bond may be held for an additional two years or until the design criteria are met, with monitoring reports continuing twice yearly. The agency added conditions requiring signage: "no snow storage" signs where appropriate and placarding of the compensatory flood-storage area with language prohibiting material storage; the applicant must submit the proposed sign language for the agency's review before permits are issued.

During discussion commissioners pressed staff and the applicant for clarifications on the city engineer's recommendations and the snow-storage plan. Commissioner Jim Connors confirmed that the applicant addressed the engineer's recommendation items; Commissioner Nick Ritchie asked where snow would be stored and was shown the storage areas called out on sheet 5 of 12. Staff and the applicant said the revisions reduced grading near the existing northeast basin and preserved existing mitigation plantings there.

A motion to approve the application with the conditions described, as read into the record, passed unanimously on roll call. The motion was amended on the floor to include a written finding that the action will not have an impact on the physical characteristics of the adjacent wetlands and watercourses; the amended motion also carried unanimously. After approval, Lynch and the project team said they would proceed to zoning review.

The permit as issued at the meeting lists an issuance date of 03/19/2025 and an expiration date of 03/19/2030 unless otherwise provided by statute.

The agency handled routine business afterward (approval of minutes and staff reports) and adjourned. The project will next proceed to the city's zoning review process.